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Dora Tchakounte (FRA): “Despite the result, the Games remain a magical experience!”

The pain on her face at the end of the fifth lift (she forfeited the last clean & jerk attempt) was an indicator of the difficulties Dora Tchakounte encountered during the final of the women’s 59kg, at her second Olympic Games. A home edition, in front of a crowded South Paris Arena 6, with many screaming her name in what has become a trademark of these Games in the French capital: unconditional support of the French competitors on home soil. This “push” has proven successful so far, with the host of these Olympics ranking fourth in the overall medal table. Dora Tchakounte (FRA) However, for the first French weightlifter in action in Paris, this was clearly not enough. “My elbow didn’t want to help today…” confessed a smiling and much more relaxed Tchakounte to the journalists in the mixed zone. After snatching 98kg and failing a 100kg bar, the 29-year-old appeared serene in the clean & jerk session: the first lift at 115kg went without major problems, but arrived at the 118kg, the French star clearly suffered from the fragility of her right elbow. In the end, Tchakounte finished in 213kg, curiously the same total that gave her a fourth place at the Tokyo Olympics, three years ago. “Visibly, the level now is quite higher…” she admitted after concluding in ninth in the French capital. “I was of course expecting to do better than in Tokyo. Not in terms of kilos, but fundamentally in terms of the final ranking”. A painful final lift in Paris With an international career spanning 14 years, she arrived in Paris with a qualifying total of 224kg (also her best), achieved at the 2024 IWF World Cup in Phuket. In Thailand, Tchakounte had snatched 101kg and lifted 123kg in the clean & jerk. It was the ninth best result of the selected athletes in this category. “Of course, it could have been better, but I am quite happy to be here. Despite the result, the Games remain a magical experience! And in the end, I didn’t make it worse than in Tokyo…” In the biggest stage of her competitive career, having the Olympics at home and the public on her side, Tchakounte was delighted with this unprecedented situation: “It was really special to feel that enthusiasm from the stands. This clearly allowed me to remain motivated and able to do my only clean & jerk lift. The injury in the elbow did not come at the best moment, but I am not the first or the last one to have this problem in weightlifting. It’s the sport, we need to accept it”. On the way to qualify for the Games: at the 2024 IWF World Cup The French lifter has notably shone on a European level throughout her career, having amassed three medals at the continental showcase: the gold in 2022, and two silver linings in 2021 and 2024. Her best result at the IWF World Championships was a ninth place two years ago, in Bogota, Colombia. After Paris, the top priority is clear: “Some holiday, enjoying some time with the family. From September, life continues, and more training sessions will come. I lived a dream here, from the first moment I arrived in the Village. It has been fantastic!” By Pedro AdregaIWF

Paris, Women 59kg: Tears all round and three Olympic champions on the podium after China’s third success

There were three Olympic champions on the podium after Luo Shifang maintained China’s 100 per cent record at Paris 2024 with a third straight victory for the world’s strongest weightlifting team. At the end of a tense and tearful 59kg session in which athletes from Colombia and Venezuela failed with last-lift attempts to win a medal, Luo was 5kg clear of Maude Charron from Canada. Charron won at 64kg in Tokyo and had to drop down when the weight categories changed for Paris. Luo Shifang (CHN) A further kilogram behind was Kuo Hsing-Chun from Chinese Taipei, who won gold at this weight in Tokyo. Cheered on by a huge following at the South Paris Arena, Kuo claimed her second bronze medal in her fourth Olympic appearance. The multiple champion and world record holder was third in the old 58kg category at Rio 2016. “They travelled from everywhere to support me – I was really moved and I would like to thank them,” said Kuo, who had been in tears on the podium. “It wasn’t the perfect ending but I’m nearly 31 and I showed I can still get on the podium. I’m not sure I can do it again, which is why I was shedding tears.” Luo is far younger than Kuo and 31-year-old Charron, and full of confidence. She had won after five attempts and instead of taking the last one she came out to wave to the crowd, enjoy her moment and let the clock run down. Maude Charron (CAN) “Success comes from perseverance and I have that,” said the 23-year-old. “I wasn’t nervous today, I didn’t feel the pressure and to be honest I have always been confident about this gold medal.” Charron was delighted to perform well in front of her family, friends and clubmates after winning in an empty auditorium in Tokyo. “It was so great here, all the cheering reminded me of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham (in 2022) where there was so much noise. You don’t always have a big crowd at weightlifting, and anyone who has qualified for this amazing event deserves to be celebrated.” She must now think about her future. Charron has long planned a career in the police force and has undergone pre-entry training that is valid until 2027.  “I have nothing on my schedule for the next month so I have time to figure things out," said Charron. "I’m not sure I want to hang up my shoes yet. I still have a few good competitions in me, especially at this weight. I’m a better weightlifter at 59 than I was at 64.” Kuo Hsing-Chun (TPE) Luo finished on 107-134-241 and Charron, who also made five from six, equalled her career-best performance on 106-130-236. Kuo made 105-130-235, her best total since Tokyo. At those delayed Games three years ago 217kg was good enough for the silver medal; this time it would have been enough only for eighth place. Tears flowed as athletes left the platform, when they returned for the medal ceremony and when they spoke to the media afterwards. “It was a unique experience, all the best athletes, and so much emotion,” said the Venezuelan Anyelin Venegas, who had a chance for a medal on her last attempt but could not take it. The 2022 world champion Yenny Alvarez, from Colombia, also missed her medal chance and failed to make a total. In the media zone afterwards Alvarez gave an interview for Colombian radio despite crying throughout. As she was speaking through her tears, the European champion Kamila Konotop from Ukraine limped past, distraught after a right thigh injury had ended her medal hopes. There were other last-lift moments to remember. Lucrezia Magistris from Italy, who had four bombouts and made only nine good lifts in seven qualifying competitions, was in danger of bombing out again when she came out for her final attempt. The crowd raised the noise level for her and she made the lift. “It helped, I’d like to thank them for the support,” said Magistris, who is studying medicine and will take time to consider her future. “It’s difficult to be a weightlifter when you’re trying to become a doctor at the same time.” Three women were level on 230kg in fourth, fifth and sixth places – Venegas, Rafiatu Lawal from Nigeria and Elreen Ando from the Philippines. Konotop made only her openers and finished seventh on 227kg. Lawal made a great save on her final attempt after missing her first two clean and jerks, and rather than end her first Olympics with a bombout she went home with a personal best total of 230kg. By Brian

Paris, Women 49kg: China’s Hou Zhihui denies six-from-six Romanian Cambei in sensational finish

Hou Zhihui ended the first day of weightlifting at Paris 2024 in sensational style to complete a “double double” for China – two champions, both winning gold for a second time. Thailand also took two medals in both sessions. Like Li Fabin in the men’s 61kg, Hou had won in Tokyo three years ago, where there was no audience because of the Covid pandemic. The atmosphere this time could not have been more different. Hou Zhihui (CHN) Mihaela Cambei from Romania was leading the 49kg field by 6kg after she made her final attempt for a career-best six-from-six total of 205kg. Every one of those lifts drew big cheers from the packed auditorium at South Paris Arena because Cambei, 21, is one of the world’s most popular weightlifters. Although four athletes were yet to finish after Cambei, Hou was the only one with a chance of catching her. She failed with the first of her two remaining attempts on 117kg and was in third place when she came out to finish the session. This time Hou made it, and the crowd of 4,000 roared their appreciation. Mihaela Cambei (ROU) There were more cheers when, at the medal ceremony, a delighted Hou jumped straight up to the top of the podium. “It was a very precious experience this time. I felt really, really motivated compared to the Tokyo Games,” said Hou. “I am just as happy as Tokyo but this time I feel more emotional.” Hou also admitted to being “quite nervous” because the competition was so close. That led to a mistake on her penultimate lift. “I made some adjustments and that’s why I was successful. Before my final lift I thought about my family, my team here and my country all backing me up. I was so motivated to make it happen.” Surodchana Khambao (THA) Despite being pipped by 1kg, Cambei was upbeat. This was the best performance ever by a European in the lightest women’s weight category. Only one other had ever won a medal, a bronze for Turkey’s Nurcan Taylan in 2004. “I am very, very happy – vice-champion of the Olympic Games,” said Cambei, who has won two European senior titles. She has an Instagram following of 417,000, of which12,000 were added soon after the end of the competition. Asked if she thought she could become the most popular female in the sport, Cambei said, “I don’t want to be the most famous - I want to be the best!” She said the biggest influence in her career has been her coach Valeriu Calancea, a world champion for Romania in 2003. Hou made 89-117-206 from her three good lifts, setting an Olympic record in clean and jerk. Cambei finished 93-112-205 and third-placed Surodchana Khambao from Thailand 88-112-200. The two athletes who finished level with Khambao in qualifying, Mirabai Chanu from India and Jourdan Delacruz from the United States, were fourth and fifth. Chanu, who has had injury problems, had a chance to take bronze on her final attempt at 114kg but failed. Hou's joy before receiving her gold medal! Chanu totalled 199kg and Delacruz, who failed to make a total in Tokyo, made three good lifts in her total of 195kg. At the finish she put her head on to the barbell as if in thanks. Asked why, Delacruz said, “I’m not a hundred per cent sure yet, but I do think this may be one of my last competitions. “It was just a moment to thank the barbell for everything that it’s taught me and for the person I’ve become in the last 10 years. It was just a moment to acknowledge the sport. Aside from what happened on stage, that barbell has taught me a lot.” “I’m surprisingly not as sad as I thought I’d be. I think that’s just because my family is here, and I’ve had such an amazing Olympic experience so far. This is something I’ll remember forever.” By Brian

Paris, Men 61kg: Li Fabin wins again for  China, Thailand and USA on podium – and five bombouts in dramatic opener

Li Fabin from China claimed his second gold medal and an Olympic record as he won the opening weightlifting contest at the Paris Games. Two 20-year-olds from Thailand and the United States, Theerapong Silachai and Hampton Morris, finished second and third. There was excitement throughout the 61kg session, watched by a full house of about 4,000 at the South Paris Arena. Five men bombed out, including three medal hopefuls. Li Fabin (CHN) There was a gasp from the noisy Team China supporters when Li missed his first clean and jerk attempt, but he made the next one and finished clear with a four-from-six 143-167-310, setting an Olympic snatch record along the way. Li, 31, had won in Tokyo with a total 3kg higher. He said before the Games that his body was “feeling less agile” at the age of 31 and had been expected to retire. But he may have a change of mind after the excitement in Paris. When Li won in Tokyo there was no audience. “I haven’t thought about carrying on, but after coming here and experiencing this, now I have to think about whether I continue to Los Angeles or not,” he said. Silachai and Morris seem sure to be there. Silachai, who was ranked sixth in qualifying, took silver with a career-best performance and immediately set his target for 2028 – “a minimum of 315kg to win gold”. Theerapong Silachai (THA) In a session that featured 44 red lights compared with 28 white ones on the scoreboard, Silachai was the only lifter to make all six attempts. He finished 132-171-303, the first time he exceeded 300kg. Silachai made small increases throughout and, unusually, improved his snatch by more than he improved his clean and jerk – 5kg to 4kg. Morris failed to better his own clean and jerk world record when he went for a final attempt at 178kg. But he was already assured of bronze and was in tears as he hugged his father and coach, Tripp, after bringing the competition to a close. Morris finished 126-172-298 from his three good lifts. “It was amazing – so much more than I imagined,” said Morris, the only athlete from the Americas in a field of 12, and the first USA male medallist in weightlifting since 1984. “I’m so, so glad to have my dad here with me.   Hampton Morris (USA) “I was always confident about making that 172,” he said of the second clean and jerk that put him ahead of fourth-placed Aniq Kasdan from Malaysia. “I approached the bar knowing I would make it. There’s no room for doubt in this sport.” Eko Yuli Irawan from Indonesia had been on course for a record fifth straight Olympic medal when he took second place in snatch on 135kg. The 35-year-old had to be helped off the platform when he failed with all three clean and jerks. Irawan, who was troubled by a knee injury during qualifying, went 17 years without a bombout in a career that began in 2006, but has not made a total in his past four competitions. The other bombouts were all in snatch. Sergio Massidda from Italy and John Ceniza from the Philippines – third and fifth in qualifying, either side of fourth-placed Irawan – failed with all three attempts, as did Trinh van Vinh from Vietnam and Ivan Dimov from Bulgaria. By Brian

How weightlifting can make Olympic history in Paris – with help from three women from the world’s biggest countries

Weightlifting’s global popularity, allied with the prowess of three women from China, India and the United States, could help the sport to make a little bit of Olympic history at the South Paris Arena on Wednesday. According to the renowned Olympic historian Bill Mallon, there has never been a result in any sport where all the medals went to India, China and the United States, the world’s biggest countries by population. Hou Zhihui (CHN) There were two occasions when all three nations won medals in boxing, in 2012 and 2020, said Mallon, a prolific author who co-founded the International Society of Olympic Historians. But four medals were awarded in those events – the beaten semi-finalists both won bronze - and the champion both times was from elsewhere. A full podium of the ‘big three’ could happen on day one of weightlifting in the women’s 49kg category – although athletes from Thailand, Romania, Japan and elsewhere will be doing their best to make sure it does not. China has the rankings leader and clear gold medal favourite Hou Zhihui, the Tokyo Olympic champion who broke the snatch world record in her final qualifier. Mirabai Chanu (IND) The next three places in the rankings are filled by three women on the same 200kg total: the Tokyo silver medallist Mirabai Chanu from India, the back-to-form American Jourdan Delacruz, and Surodchana Khambao from Thailand. Mihaela-Valentina Cambei from Romania and Rira Suzuki from Japan are close behind. “Of course we do not know who will win the medals, but it would be fitting if weightlifting was the first sport to have all three of the world’s biggest nations filling the podium,” said Mohamed Jalood, president of the IWF. “Ours is a genuinely global sport. “We have medal contenders from all parts of the world here in Paris. We are a strong sport in all the biggest countries. This can only be good for weightlifting, and for the Olympic Games. “Weightlifting has grown strong everywhere, you only have to look at our medals tables to see that.” At the most recent World Youth Championships more than half (29 from 50) of the nations who entered won medals, and at the 2023 World Junior Championships it was 25 from 50. At the Tokyo Olympic Games, 24 nations won medals. Jourdan Delacruz (USA) Hou Zhihui, who qualified ahead of team-mate Jiang Huihua with a big performance at the IWF World Cup in Thailand in April, goes into the competition in positive mood. During her preparations she praised her support team for giving her the chance of a second Olympic gold. “There is a saying that a good neighbour is better than a brother far off,” Hou said. “My coaches, doctors, and friends have all given me strong support both in terms of emotion as well as my professional skills. They always remind me to be happy, stay positive and smile every day. With a good mood, my training is more effective.”  Surodchana Khambao (THA) Chanu, who has recovered after injury problems during qualifying, told the Indian media, “I can’t set a target. I will do what it takes and give my best to win a medal, but I can’t predict the colour.” Mihaela Cambei (ROU) Delacruz hopes to put the memories of Tokyo behind her. On her Olympic Games debut she was too concerned with how others were performing. She missed four attempts and failed to make a total. This time the 26-year-old will focus only on herself rather than the competition. She even asked her coach Spencer Arnold and others not to show her the start list for Paris, USA Weightlifting reports. Rira Suzuki (JPN) “Historically, any competition I’ve medalled in, it’s been a bit of a surprise because I was more focused on myself rather than the competition,” Delacruz said.  “Once it was all over, I realised I got a medal. So that’s the approach we want to have in Paris.” Arnold said, “What Jourdan has always done when she approaches really healthy, good competitions, it’s ‘I really want to snatch this and I want to clean and jerk this and total this’. So who cares where the field is, who cares what numbers they're doing, what numbers they're picking next?” His message to Delacruz was, “Let's make sure you're proud of what you did, make sure you represent the country well, and let the chips fall where they might.” By Brian Oliver Photos by Giorgio

National team leaders validate final entries for the Olympic weightlifting competition

While the South Paris Arena venue is getting ready to welcome the weightlifting competition from Wednesday (this was also the site hosting the handball games until yesterday), the national team leaders gathered today for the Final Verification Entries and the Technical Meeting. Under the leadership of the IWF President Mohammed Jalood, the meetings were also conducted by the Paris 2024 IWF Technical Delegates Matthew Curtain (IWF Executive Board Member) and Moira Lassen, the Chair of the IWF Technical Committee and EB Member Sam Coffa, the IWF CEO Achilleas Tsogas, the IWF Competition Manager Matyas Lencser, and the Paris 2024 Weightlifting Sports Manager Jacqueline White. “These are my first Games as the IWF President and I am immensely happy to see so many nations represented here in Paris! There are exactly 58 countries taking part in the competition, which I am sure will be very successful,” considered Mr Jalood when opening the meetings. “Our International Federation underwent many positive changes in recent years, and the biggest effort was to make it a clean and drug-free sport. Thanks to a very fruitful co-operation with the International Testing Agency, we are getting excellent results and we hope to have, like in Tokyo three years, zero positive doping cases,” added the IWF President. “In order to consolidate our reputation, we must continue competing on a clean and fair manner!” concluded the IWF President. IWF President Mohammed Jalood The meeting was the last opportunity for the participating delegations to update the entry totals of their respective qualified athletes, as well as an occasion to validate the athletes’ headshot photos for the sports presentation of the weightlifting events. “We are ready and excited to be here! Paris 2024 marks the beginning of the work we did as a weightlifting family. We are proud of this spirit of unity and, as a family, we are here to help each other. Your support, together with the IWF’s hard work, is therefore essential to achieve success!” considered Matthew Curtain. “We lived a very challenging Olympic cycle, after the COVID limitations, This is why we admire your perseverance and devotion to be in a great shape and to brilliantly qualify for these Olympics. Congratulations and good Games to all of you!”  stated Moira Lassen. On a more technical note, Jacqueline White briefed all delegations about the various procedures, flows and obligations of the participating teams during the competition, to be staged from August 7-11. “We had a very good collaboration with the IWF throughout all this process and we are here to help you in whatever you may need,” confessed the Paris 2024 Weightlifting Sports Manager. IWF